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Monday, February 5, 2007

Key Games This Week

With the first full of week of February set to begin, it's really time for teams to make their move. If a team is on the bubble, they need to get some quality wins to get in the Big Dance. Other teams need a string of wins just to get onto the bubble. Additionally, teams will be fighting for seedings for the next five weeks. Oh, and there's that minor thing of conference championships still yet to be decided. This week has plenty of quality games to keep your interest.Note: Next week, this segment will be included in the "Bracket Breakdown" feature.Syracuse at Connecticut (Monday): The Orange could really use a win as they were the last team out this week. UConn could get their second in a row.Texas at Texas A&M (Monday): A&M is coming off their huge win at Kansas. How will Kevin Durant fare against the stingy Aggies defense?Toledo at Kent State (Tuesday): Two of the best in the MAC. Toledo has run over the awful MAC West, but Kent State is a game back of Akron in the East.North Carolina State at Georgia Tech (Tuesday): Tech needs a couple more wins to get back into an at-large spot; NC State had an outstanding week.Michigan at Ohio State (Tuesday): Rivalry game in the Big Ten. Michigan needs a win to salvage their season, OSU is chasing a #1 seed and Big Ten title.Virginia at Maryland (Tuesday): Didn't think you'd see UVA tied for first in the ACC, did you? Maryland really needs a win here to boost their record.LSU at Tennessee (Tuesday): Will the SEC West fall to the SEC East yet again? LSU's at-large hopes are fading as we speak; Vols are in a slump, too.Georgetown at Louisville (Wednesday): Cardinals have played well in the Big East, and are on the bubble. Hoyas looking at #3 in the conference.Florida State at Clemson (Wednesday): Two teams going in opposite directions. FSU is rolling and looking at a Top-8 seed. Clemson is falling fast.Pittsburgh at West Virginia (Wednesday): WVU needs another big win to pad their mediocre resume. Pittsburgh looks to stay atop the standings.Florida at Georgia (Wednesday): UF is playing as well as any team in the country right now. UGA was the last team in this week--this win would be huge.Michigan State at Purdue (Wednesday): Both teams are on the bubble in the Big Ten, and need a win. MSU has lost three in a row, and is falling.Bradley at Southern Illinois (Wednesday): Best MVC game of the week. SIU is looking like the class of the league, while Bradley is in the at-large hunt.Kansas State at Kansas (Wednesday): First time in awhile this game actually mattered. Kansas State is one of the hottest teams in the country.Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (Wednesday): Another in-state rivalry. OK State struggles on the road, while the Sooners get above .500 in the Big 12 with a win.North Carolina at Duke (Wednesday): Arguably the best rivalry in sports. However, when's the last time both teams were coming off of a loss?USC at UCLA (Wednesday): UCLA pulled out a one-point win last time. Trojans are looking better and better lately--this win would cement their NCAA status.Drexel at Hofstra (Thursday): If the CAA has any shot at getting at an-large bid, it will come from these teams. Pride won at Drexel in overtime earlier this season.Notre Dame at DePaul (Thursday): Irish dropped a bad game at South Florida on Saturday; DePaul needs a win to stay within reach of the bubble.Western Kentucky at South Alabama (Thursday): The two best in the Sun Belt go head-to-head. Courtney Lee vs. Demetric Bennet will be fun.Stanford at Washington State (Thursday): Two surprising teams this season in the Pac-10. Winner could keep pace with UCLA in the title race.Holy Cross at Bucknell (Friday): Game of the year in the Patriot. HC is undefeated in conference play, but Bison have won 9 of 10 and are tough at home.